PHOENIX, Sep. 15 \u2014 The Arizona Diamondbacks<\/a> hit two three-run home runs off NL Cy Young candidate Justin Steele<\/a><\/strong>, taking a 6\u20130 lead into the top of the ninth and hanging on for a crucial 6\u20134 victory over the Chicago Cubs<\/a> Friday night in a matchup of NL Wild Card contenders. Gabriel Moreno<\/a><\/strong> went 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored, the first Diamondbacks catcher to go 4-for-4 in a game in 17 years.<\/p>\n Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt<\/a><\/strong> tossed 5 1\/3 scoreless innings for the Diamondbacks before giving way to Andrew Saalfrank<\/a><\/strong>, who pitched the final two outs of the sixth. Manager Torey Lovullo<\/a><\/strong> said Pfaadt was \u201cpounding the zone. It looked like he had a good sinker, four-seamer, with a sweeper combination. (He) had a couple of big swing-and-miss moments in some very key at-bats.\u201d Lovullo added that Pfaadt looked like he was in \u201ctotal control throughout the course of his outing.\u201d<\/p>\n Cubs center fielder Mike Tauchman<\/a><\/strong> led off the game with a high blooper to shallow left-center, the ball dropping in the Bermuda Triangle for a single off Pfaadt. After a fly to left by second baseman Nico Hoerner<\/a><\/strong>, left fielder Ian Happ<\/a><\/strong> grounded into a double play, shortstop unassisted to first. Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte<\/a><\/strong> led off the bottom half with a single up the middle, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by right fielder Corbin Carroll<\/a><\/strong> and to third on a grounder to the pitcher by designated hitter Tommy Pham<\/a><\/strong>. First baseman Christian Walker<\/a><\/strong> drew a walk to put runners on the corners for left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr<\/strong><\/a>. On the first pitch, Gurriel blasted a towering fly to left, a 413-foot bomb into the left-field seats for a three-run homer.<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks doubled their lead in the bottom of the sixth. A leadoff walk by Walker and two-out single to right by Moreno put runners on the corners for center fielder Alek Thomas<\/a><\/strong>. Thomas, at this point, was 8-for-68 (.118) against left-handed pitching with a double, a homer, and 21 strikeouts. But Thomas smoked a liner to deep right that kept carrying and carrying, settling into the seats for the second Diamondbacks three-run homer of the game.<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks carried their 6\u20130 lead into the top of the ninth. Kyle Nelson<\/a><\/strong> entered the game in a mop-up role but struggled. Happ welcomed him with a loud homer to left, ending the shutout bid. First baseman and Phoenix-area native Cody Bellinger<\/a><\/strong> walked before shortstop Dansby Swanson<\/a><\/strong> struck out. When designated hitter Seiya Suzuki<\/a><\/strong> hit a two-run homer to left, the score became 6\u20133 and Lovullo pulled a frustrated Nelson.<\/p>\n In came closer Paul Sewald<\/a><\/strong> in a non-save situation. He also coughed up a dinger, a shot to left by right fielder Christopher Morel<\/a><\/strong>. But Sewald settled down, retiring catcher Yan Gomes<\/a><\/strong> on a liner to center and third baseman Nick Madrigal<\/a><\/strong> on a popup to short for the game-ending out.<\/p>\n As mentioned earlier, Moreno went 4-for-4, the first Diamondbacks catcher to do so in 17 years. That catcher was Johnny Estrada<\/a><\/strong>, and the game was June 5, 2006, against the Philadelphia Phillies<\/a>. Lovullo said of Moreno, \u201cPutting Gabi in back of the plate is one thing, it’s catch-release, the ability to control the game from a game-planning standpoint. He just continues to grow and check boxes in that area. And then it’s an unbelievable approach today that led to four hits.\u201d<\/p>\n Lovullo later added, \u201cGetting those four knocks today was a great day for him. He was right in the middle of everything. Without him, obviously, we wouldn’t have scored as many runs as we did.\u201d<\/p>\n Pfaadt (2\u20138) earned the win, while Steele (16\u20134) took the loss. There was no save. The Diamondbacks (77\u201372) and Cubs (78\u201370) link up again Saturday for the second game in the three-game series. It will be a matchup of right-handers, Zach Davies<\/a><\/strong> (2\u20135, 6.81 ERA) for the Diamondbacks and Kyle Hendricks<\/a><\/strong> (6\u20137, 3.71 ERA) for the Cubs. First pitch will be at 5:10 pm Arizona Time\/7:10 pm Central.<\/p>\nDiamondbacks Take Lead over Cubs<\/h3>\n
Cubs Make It Interesting in Ninth<\/h3>\n
Special Day for Moreno<\/h3>\n
Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n
Main Photo:<\/h4>\n